IKaria's Cafe's Kitchens and Taverna's

     

                                         

      

                                                    Welcome to Eleni's  Kitchen

      

   

                                                          

                                        

                                                              Farm kitchen

 

                                                           Fresh goat milk

                                   

        

                                                       Chick Peas with olive oil onions

        

          

                                                                    Spinach pie

    

         

                                                            From farm to Table

Located on a organic wine farm  in Pigi  Elenii cooks all her food from scratch paired with delicious wines. Call ahead to arrange to have dinner at the farm for $20.00 all the food and wine you can drink.

        

                                                                   Popi's Taverna

       

               Pop's traditional Taverna located in Evidilos. When you dine here and in most 

               Restaurants in Ikaria you are invited into the kitchen where Popi will open each pot

               And describe each dish. "Sit back and enjoy the view and  great Greek food".

          

      

                                                            Sotires Taverna

      

      

     

                                

Located on the way up to Christo Raches. Look for a night there is live entrainment. Always great

Food and Greek dancing this is where the locals go. One night the amount of  people got bigger than the dance floor, so they took to the street in front of Sotires, cars came and there wasn't  any horn blowing or yelling, that they were blocking the street, instead they put there cars in park got out joined in the dance and when it was finished got back into their cars and off they went I can tell you that I felt 

That I had witnessed something extraordinary  that night, Ikarotes have not lost their joy I for life.

                                   They dance liked it is there last day on earth.

         

                                 Teddy and Paschale wait for fish dinner in the fishing village Karkinagri.

        

                           

         

                                    This taverna is a 1 hour ferry ride to the Island Samos.

         

                                                        Located Magganitis La Fortuna 

                             

                                                              Excellent food

         

                        This Taverna overlooks port of Magganitis great food and  homemade wines.

                               We usually order the plate called picoli it's a little bit of everything.

           

                                                 

                                                                   Samos Cafe

            

              All over Ikaria you will find on different nights Taverna's will offer a whole pig, roasted goat

              Or Lamb  just look for a crowded taverna  that's where you will find the special of the nite.

            

           

                                                                All Time favorite
  

             

                                                        Balconi Studios  Kampos

          

                                                   All vegatables dish Soufico

         

On any given night Marianna our host would declare it Soufico nite, or roasted goat, or whatever moved her, then each guest from every country you could imagine would make a dish and bring out 

Along with local wine, add a little music and Greek dancing and it's the best place in town.

                                      

             

                                                          Marianna our head Chef

           

                                               Owners of Balconi studios Paschale and Marianna

You start with great ingredients, amazing vistas, and colorful people, you can't go wrong, I can tell you we  didn't find a Taverna, cafe, or restaurant we didn't like. Each had their own twist on  the islands traditional dishes. Ikarians eat meat usually 1 or twice a week or on special occasions, just another reason there is longevity on the island. Kali orexi

     

     

         

 

                    

    

Ikarian Medicinal herbs

                                                               Silybum Marianum 

                                                                        Blessed milk thistle

Blessed Milk thistle

         

                                                                  Liver Detox

We bought this in a seed form Kira Maria according to the herb expert here on the island 

You crush the seed , boil water, add a small amount of the crushed seed, let steep. Drink this tea for only one week then stop. I looked this up on Mother Earth site for other medicinal  uses, lowers blood sugars, pain reliever, fights infections, can decrease BP, lower cholesterol. If you experience diarrhea stop tea. 

Kira Maria  sells Herbs Tea's at Monastery 

    

                                                             

                

                                                   Frascomilo  mountain tea

Properties Mountain Tea 
According Ikarians

        

               

                                                 

                                                    

Wild Oregano 

     

                                                       

Properties Oregano

     

   

                                              

Chamomile

    

                      

                                               

Saint Johns Wort ((Balsalm oil)

 

 

                     

                                            Thrimbii 

Thrimbi9

    Properties Antibacterial, antioxidants, Astringent, Carminative. Savory can be used  fresh or dried.In cooking or teas. Marianna uses it for salad dressing, she puts a handful of savory in a glass jar,with a good quality olive oil, infuses for 40 days.

                                                 

Herbs drying at Monastery of Theoktis

                                                    

                                                     Origanum vulgare wild marjoram

Marjoram 

                                               

  

                                                            

Mint

              

                              

                                                                 

    

Figs drying outside Monastery 

                                                    

Figs as you know are not a herb , but are also considered  to be an amazing and healing fruit.

At end  of August the trees are heavy with fruit, they are good for asthma, diabetes,Constipation, anemia. 

Studies are being conducted in Athens to find out why Ikarian herbs are more potent than other Greek islands.

Herbs are incorporated in the Ikarians day to day lifestyle, they cook with it they use it for medicinal purposes, they drink it in their tea along with their amazing honey, infuse it into their olive oil  for salad dressings.

Another reason that may contribute longevity. 

Flowers &bees

*The hand written explanations are found at the monastery, written by unknown  author

Kira Maria only speaks Greek*

Disclaimer :Trying any of these teas, herbs,remedies recommend consulting with your Doctor.

 

    

  

                 

Monastery Theokitis

           

                                                                   Theoskepasti

                                                                   Translated Roof of God.

         

Located in the mountains in a small village called Pigi is a  very special place, here you will find a  Monastery  ( nuns left  here 1982)  it is now looked after by a dedicated elder KiraMaria you will also find a 1700century church, relics and as pictured above a small but amazing chapel built from and into the rocks.

       

                                    Sign marking turn onto dirt road to Monastery

                                    

             Peaceful place the walkways are lined with brilliant beautiful flowers.

      

1700 Church is in need of paint and repairs but because of its age it's a expensive undertaking to restore it to its original state requiring special techniques.

                                    

                                      

                                             Inside Theoktisti Church

      

                        KiraMaria lovingly explains the paintings on the wall from 1700 century

                                     

Outside are chairs and tables where herbs are drying later to be sold for the upkeep of the 

Grounds.

        

                                                                      

                                          

Relics found at the Monastery 

         

Kitchen of Kira Maria  located on the grounds where collected herbs are being dried, honeys, along with a few handmade items and of  the course  the locals and one our favorite as well, homemade Loukoumades drizzled with honey, all for sale with the proceeds going for the upkeep of the grounds and church.

        

         

            

         

Their are many legends surrounding this monastery, we will return to Theokitisti  to hear them  directly from their caretaker KiraMaria and post what she shares along with the herbs and their medicinal properties on our next blog.

Religion is a very important  part of the Ikarians day to day life,  could this be another reason why they

Live long and healthy lives. Faith in God  and the Greek Orthodox Religion.